
The Falkland Islands Tourist Board this week launched the nation’s first ‘Tourism Satellite Account’ (TSA), a United Nations endorsed international standard for measuring the true economic impact of tourism.

The Chilean TAG service (an electronic toll road payment system) has been implemented in Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez airport in the Pudahuel borough, thus making it easier to enter and leave the international airport.

A trial of a scanner that produces naked images of passengers has begun at Manchester Airport, Britain. The authorities say it will speed up security checks by quickly revealing any concealed weapons or explosives.

An innovative and aggressive program to promote Chilean Tierra del Fuego tourism as its most dynamic industry is to be implemented between government, the private sector and international advisory organizations, according to reports in Punta Arenas La Prensa Austral.

Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile is anticipating a weaker cruise season for this 2009/2010 summer because of the global crisis. The number of calls is expected to drop 12.3% (17 less) totalling 79.950 passengers and 38.357 crew members, according to Punta Arenas Austral Port Authority, EPA.

As of this week the Mexican city of Puebla has a fleet of 35 “pink taxis” exclusive for women and driven by ladies, announced the local Communications and Transport Secretariat.

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has approved a resolution requiring members' passenger ships to be fitted with satellite tracking devices based on Iridium (Iridium Communications Inc.). The devices will report ships' positions at least once per hour when cruising in Antarctic waters.

The cruise sector in Europe seems to have shrugged off the economic crisis and Gibraltar, in common with many key Mediterranean passenger ports, is reaping the benefit, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Uruguay officially opened this week the country’s new Carrasco international air terminal with a capacity to manage 3 million passengers annually, which makes it operational until 2030.

In a report released Monday, the United Nations Human development index ranks Norway as the best place in the world to live. Factors such as life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment, health system and GDP help determine these rankings.